My side of the exchange...

The exchange started out as a stole exchange, but those with a foresight knew that many wouldn't be able to finish a big sized stole this close to Christmas... Viki kind of joked, that she wants a Clapotis for so long, how about if he joins the exchange, but knits it for herself... I kind of jokingly replied, if I get her, I will knit a Clapotis for her. From haddyed, handspun yarn..Then loo and behold, when the organizers paired up the participants, I did get her...

I started out with a bunch of fibers, of which I dyed several different shades and combination until I came up with the one I was satisfied with.

Then I halfed the roving lengthvise and spun slightly thicker than my usual lace, as I wanted to get a light fingering thickness.

Knitting a Clapotis not that challenging, its knit, twisted knit, purl, increase, decrease ...

In fact it is rather boring after the first few dropped stitches. Thank god I have a few proffessors at my uni who do not mind if I knit during a lecture or class.So this one has about a 1000 km in it (on the train) some Literary Fantasy, some digital culture and fandom, even a bit of academic writing...

When dyeing/spinning I wanted to achieve a stripy, effect, with long color repeats, much like Noro, except that my yarn is two ply, and somewhat more uniform than Noro. (I have a love and hate relationship with Noro)

The final result was a big sizeable stole.

Neck-thingie exchange

On FB I am a member of several fiber related groups, and even a few of Hungarian groups. Gift exchanges are more or less regurarly organize, but I approach them rather carefully, meaning I rarely participate, if I do is because I want to give something, and do not really care, don't have any expectation what I get. This is how I approached this round.

Turns out I should not have to take that stance. I got my present from my Star (whose real name is Erica, but since she goes with her nickname on Facebook, I keep calling her that in person too).

It took me a god while to actually manage to shot some pictures, end of semester rush, awfully dark, cloudy weather and short days made it difficult. We did try to shot a couple of pics indoor, but they were just useless, and my Present (yes, whith a capital P) deserve to be shown in the best possible light. because it is perfect. Exactly what I wished for. I love the colors, the pattern, everything.
Thank you.
I will show what I made in a separate post.

Jazzy

In the name of stash-burning and giving handmade gifts...

My friend Timea, told me, she lost her hat...so I dug a lonely ball of dark grey yarn and a deep red one out of the stash, and printed out the pattern for the Escargot hat...

But what is a hat without a pair of mittens? So time fo the boxes that hide all my sockyarns...

The new owner seems happy with her xmas present for this year. :-)

weekly spinning

I received two handdyed,  2.6-2.7 oz. handcarded batts.

Which became two 430-450 meter hanks of three (navajo) plied beaded lace yarn...

Garter stitch

I started knitting a Lanesplitter skirt... striped garter stitch. I don't know whatwas I thinking as I desparately dislike garter stitch. I can only take a couple rows of it, for decoration, or to avoid rolled edges, which I dislike even more. 

Then I got so bored of it, I wanted to stab my eyes out with the metal needles, and against boredom I thought quick, lets start something else...something completely different....

A striped garter stitch shawl... Right.

The Bride

Now, that we established the fact that I am a selfish knitter (and have no shame about it) here is an other thing I've knitted for someone else.
 Luca (of Barkafonal) asked me late last winter if I have "any handspun natural colored yarn"
"No, but I can spin some. Why?" I answered.
"Because I am getting married, and I would like to knit or crochet something for my wedding dress."
There she was in the middle of a store full of yarn, an she is asking for my yarn. I was moved, and didn't even thought of saying no.
Then we agreed in which fiber, what thickness, and I spun some 7-800 meters of  laceweight alpaca/silk for her.

And some 60 gramms I kept and spun into a fingering weight, because I wanted give her a wedding present.
The "thing" she planned for the wedding was not made at the end (because of the sudden move of the store I think), but the yarnshop girl didn't had to marry without wearing a handknit, because a few days before a big day, I presented her... with a pair of elbow length lacy glove.

And the next I saw it, was on the pictures of the wedding.

Handspun alpaca silk, about 50-60 gramms, beads, and the design is mine. Actually, I halved the yarn I spun, and since the glowes were knit top down, I could knit as long as there was yarn. I had less then a meter left after casting off.

(Pictures curtesy of Luca Zemplényi. Have a happy and long life together!)

Zsazsa

In high-school I was the rebel student and she was the rebel teacher, so we took to each other, even though I hardly had any classes with her. What she thaught us however, stuck, so much that over the last couple of years, I did used many things she hammered into our heads about literature. In fact, that she is now teaching in there was one of the deciding factors which university I finally applied for.

Though we hardly met for 25 years, we picked up easily where we left off, and when she mentioned that she would like to have something knitted, something light and lacy with beads, I thought, why not.
Now, if you know me, you would also know that I am a rather selfish knitter. I hardly knit for others, only in very special cases. But she is very special, and a lacy top is not that big of a thing, right? (Do NOT mention lace shawls for her!)

I sent her pictures of dozens of lacy sleeveless tops, then searched the every corner of the net for just the right yarn, then looking for the perfect beads, and set about knitting. And then presented it. And she could not wait to try it on. And it fit perfectly. And the smile on her face made it all worthwhile.

Pattern: Leafy Glen Shell
Yarn: Ice yarns, Silk, . I used about 60-70 gramms (only a little bit more than 2 balls, each ball is 25 gramms, Now this piece is LIGHT).
Beads: Toho 6 (from Igazgyöngy)

I was not prepared to take picture, didn't took a camera with me. But Larisa Kocic shot a couple with her phone)